Traveling by train with your motorcycle should be a simple and pleasant experience. But the reality is completely different.
SNCF is still lagging behind and trying to welcome cyclists, who are increasingly numerous, to lead the train. If the Law on Mobility Orientation (LOM) is imposed by regulation 4 to 8 places for bikes that have not been dismantled in new regional trains (TER) and 8 places in new or renovated national trains, it is still not enough.
Between booking restrictions, limited spaces and fluctuating rules by train type, taking the train with you is a headache. And the situation can quickly drag on when you see the behavior of other passengers, some of whom attack the trunks with their suitcases. By opening X (ex-twitter)-or Pandora’s box SNCF-WE will read many testimonies of lost users, or who received more or less salty, even more or less justified in order.
Because it is not always clear, we take inventory to help you organize your next trip in France.
How to prepare a bike for train travel?
- before departure, clean the bike Especially if you plan to put it in a cover. It is better to transport and dismantle a clean bike than a dirty bike. This will keep your hands full of black grease on the train and dirtying the rest of your stuff. Clean and degrease the chain well and lubricate it. A few drops are enough. Take the opportunity to check your bike. Check that everything is working.
- Don’t forget to disassemble the bike if necessary. Buy a shipping cover, whose dimensions are suitable for your bike and authorized on the train. The compact and lightweight cover for ten-ton bikepacking has the advantage of collapsing into a small bag to hang on his handlebars. The house must always be closed on the train.
- Do you have a vae or a bike with disc brakes? Use Brake plate spacers. This will prevent your pads from sticking when there is no other disc. A piece of stiff cardboard is enough. To make it easier to remove the rear wheel, place the chain on the smallest shields (the ones on the right).
- Labo on a bike.
- Remove the bags Once on board.
Rules for using your bike according to train type (Ouigo, TER, TGV, etc.)
| Train | Conditions | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Ter | Reservation sometimes required* for unhealthy bike | Free or paid* for unhealthy bike, free for folded bike or under cover (130 x 90 cm) |
| Intercity | Mandatory reservation for unhealthy bike | €5/10 per unhealthy bike, free for bike under cover (130 x 90 cm) or folding |
| TGV Inoui | €10 for an unhealthy bike, free for a bike on disassembly under cover (130 x 90 cm) or folding | |
| Transilian | Bikes accepted only from Monday to Friday, before 6:30, between 9:30 and 16:30 and after 19:30, Saturday, Sunday and holidays without time restrictions. Bicycles prohibited outside these hours | release |
| Ouigo (classic and high-speed train) | Reservation required. The unhealthy bike option is not offered for ouigo trains. | Valid, €10 per unhealthy bike, €5 per folding bike or folding bike under cover (130 x 90 cm maximum and weight ≤ 30 kg) |
* Reservations also depend on the region and certain lines or the period (weekends, school holidays). Booking an unhealthy bike is not always free. It is best to check the conditions used at the TER region site.
For the time being, couchettes, tandems, tricycles, cargos and long ones are not accepted on most trains.
A special train + bikes have been set up for the summer of 2024. Their goal is to “simplify” the transport of train wheels. Nothing revolutionary, since the initiatives that have been carried out generally consist of revising the number of bicycle spaces and systematizing the reservation through a “bicycle coupon”. Booking is free or paid depending on the region (from 1 to 10 EUR). Beware of the calendar, which is not the same everywhere, it would be too simple … France Vélo Tourisme website combined on one page the train + vélo summer 2024 initiative.
How to book your unhealthy bike placement in the SNCF Connect app?
On the SNCF Connect app, Ask for the bike type as soon as it is (not disassembled, dismantled) and follow the information.
If booking was a chore in the beginning, improvements have been made and there is quickly regional and national information to organize your trip.
As the fleet of wheel placement equipped trains is limited, it is essential to do so as soon as possible. Otherwise, plan B is to remove the bike and put it in the cover. This is what SNCF proposes on its application.
Other important information: If you change trains, you can reserve an unhealthy bike to jump. This is the case if you travel with an unhealthy bike and go from a classic Ouigo to a high gear. Always check before boarding.
Go further
5 tips for traveling by train with your bike with a quiet spirit (almost)
- He always arrives at the station early If you want to quietly dismantle the bike, or get it on board and find a place. If you have to dismount your bike, run away and not in front of doors or in passages. Schedule a small cloth to remove any dirt.
- Once on board, Make sure your bike does not obstruct traffic on the train. If your wheel is in the cover, approach the controller and check if the wheel can stay there. Avoid driving through areas or doors.
- Take the wheel transport cover and Multitool Dismantling wheels. The folding cover does not take up much space. Decathlon offers coverage for less than 20 euros. When folded in its storage case, it measures 25 x 15 cm. It is often less restrictive (and free!) to travel with a dismantled motorcycle. The Badpipe-style MacGyver option is not always accepted by drivers.
- Plan a little anti-theft To secure a bike. Some routes and train configurations don’t allow you to always look at it. When a train has several stops, it can quickly become stressful. Combiflex from ABUS is really practical for this type of use. There is no need for a key anymore because it works on the code. Take the 120cm cable version, more practical than the shorter cable version.